Will Wilson is godson to Alice Wilson and childhood friend to Jem Wilson and Mary Barton. A cheerful, enthusiastic, and honorable young man, Will falls in love with Mary’s plain friend Margaret after hearing Margaret’s beautiful singing voice while he’s visiting Alice on shore leave from his job as a sailor. The night that Harry Carson is murdered, Will walks to Liverpool, from which he intends to sail to the Isle of Man to visit relatives before shipping out as a sailor again. Jem accompanies Will part of the way; as such, Will is Jem’s alibi for Harry’s murder. Because Will doesn’t know about the murder or Jem’s need for an alibi, Mary has to take a train to Liverpool and boat down the river as Will’s ship is sailing away to inform him he needs to appear in court. Due to Will’s testimony, Jem is acquitted. Several years later, Will gets engaged to Margaret.